Assorting apparatus for sheets of mica, &amp;c.



Patented Aug. 7, I900. R. W. HEARD &. R.'A. L. SNYDERJ ASSURTING APPARATUS FOR SHEETS 0F MlCA, 8w.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet .l.

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No. 655,553. Patented Aug. 7, I900. B. W. HEARD & B. A. L. SNYDER.

ASSUBTING APPARATUS FOR SHEETS 0F MIGA, 81.0.

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No. 655,553. I Patented Aug. 7,1900. 8. w. HEARD &. FLA. L. SNYDER. ASSORTING APPARATUS FOR SHEETS 0F RICA. 8w.-

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.)

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PENNSYLVANIA.

ASSORTING APPARATUS FOR SHEETS OF MICA, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,553, dated August '7, 1900. Application filed February 12, 1898. Serial No. 670,095, (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD W. HEARD and Brennan A. L. SNYDER, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, county of Allegheny,and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Assorting Apparatus, of which improvement the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to means for assorting or grading sheets or pieces of mica and other substances.

The object of our invention is to provide means by which sheets or pieces of mica and other substances of varying degrees of thickness maybe effectively, thoroughly, and economically assorted into diiferent grades of a uniform thickness; and to this end our invention consists of means for assorting or grading sheets or pieces of mica and other substances, in an apparatus for automatically assorting or grading sheets or pieces of mica or other substances of varying thicknesses, and in certain combinations of parts and features of construction, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

\Vhile our invention maybe employed for assorting pieces or sheets other than pieces or sheets of mica, the primary object we have in view is the assortment of mica sheets of various thicknesses into grades or lots of the same or approximately the same thickness, and we will therefore hereinafter refer particularly to the assorting of pieces or sheets of mica.

Mica has for a very long period been quite extensively employed in the various arts, and its special adaptability for use in connection with the manufacture of electrical apparatus has greatly increased the demand for it, so that at present a great quantity of mica is used. The form in which it is most usually employed is in exceedingly-thin sheets,strips,

'or pieces of various sizes and shapes, the

mica sheets or pieces most generally employed being from one-thousandth of an inch to three-thousandths of an inch in thickness. These very thin sheets or leaves are, owing to the nature of the mica, readily severed from the block or lump mica. It is, however,

impossible to cut or slit the block or lump of mica, so that the leaves or sheets will be of a uniform thickness. It is very important, particularly where mica sheets, strips, or pieces are used in the manufacture of electrical apparatus, that they should be first assorted into different grades containing pieces of uniform thickness. Heretofore, so far as we are aware, mica sheets or pieces of varying degrees of thickness have been assorted into grades of uniform thickness or into grades of approximately-uniform thickness by hand-labor alone. Prior to our invention no machine or apparatus for accomplishing this assorting or grading has been employed.

The means for accomplishing the purposes for which our invention is designed may be varied from those shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the scope of our invention, which consists of an apparatus constructed in such a manner whereby it is capable of assorting or grading sheets or pieces of mica and other substances of various thicknesses into lots or grades which comprise sheets or pieces having the same thickness or approximatelythe same thickness.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate applications of our invention, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus for assorting or grading mica and other substances constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, a top plan View; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlarged side elevational View of rolls, frame, and electrical contacts; Fig. 5, a diagrammatic plan view showing one form of revolving electromagnets and electrical connections; Fig. 6, a plan View of another form of means for operating the vanes; Fig. 7, a side view of construction shown by Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a side view of a magnetic clutch; Fig. 9, a part sectional view and a part front view on line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a diagrammatic plan view showing magnetic clutches and electrical connections, and Fig. 11 an enlarged detail view of the supplemental frame carrying the roller 5.

The assorting or grading apparatus shown is mounted on a frame 1, which may be constructed in any desirable form. In the drawings we have shown the frame supported on legs 2. The sheets or pieces of mica of different thicknesses may be introduced into the apparatus by any convenient and suitable means, such as an endless conveyer-belt 8, whichis preferably perforated in order to prevent dust or dirt being carried thereon and fed into the apparatus with the mica. It is particularly convenient to employ a conveyerbelt for feeding the material to the apparatus when a mica cutting or splitting machine is employed in connection with our invention, as the conveyer-belt may carry the material direct from the splitting-machine to our assorting apparatus. The thin sheets of mica or other material to be assorted are delivered from the conveyor-belt and pass to a gaging device adapted to gage the thickness of the respective sheets or pieces. The gaging means shown by us comprises a pair of rolls consisting of rollers 1 and 5, between which the mica sheets are fed. The guide 6 prevents the material from being thrown out of a direct path leading from the conveyer to the rolls. In case a conveyer-belt is not used the material is passed to the gaging means in any convenient manner. The gaging means form a very important feature of our invention, and in the construction shown,which comprises the rollers 4 and 5,one of themnamely, the roller 4-is a fixed roller having its shaft mounted in suitable hearings on the main frame 1, and the other roller 5 is a movable roller or a roller mounted on a movable light supplemental frame 7, Fig. 11, suspended by suitable means, as pins 8, between pillow-blocks 9, or other means attached to the main frame 1 on two sides of the apparatus. Roller 5 so mounted is capable of varying its distance with reference to the fixed roller 4, the means being such that the position of the roller 5 with reference to the roller 4 will be changed by material of the most minute thickness coming between therollers. 'lhe distance the movable frame carrying the roller 5 is caused to move depends upon the thickness of the material between the rolls. It is quite evident, however, as the maximum thickness of the material passed between the rolls is usually about three-thousandths of an inch the greatest movement of the roller 5 away from the roller & is exceedingly small.

The light movable frame 7, which is hung on pins 8, acts as a motion-multiplyingdevice and is provided with arms 10, which are connected with the upper ends of the arms 10*. These short arms 1O are pivotally joined to arms 10, which latter have their lower ends securely attached to and adapted to turn with the pins 11. The arms 11 are also rigidly mounted on said pins 11. By this construction multiplied motion can be imparted to the arms 11. A very slight movement of the frame 7, caused by a sheet of mica passing between the rolls, causes the pins 11, owing to the arrangement of arms as shown, to turn, and as the arms 11 are A number of suitable vanes 15, 15 and 15 for distributing the mica into different receptacles are each, respectively, rigidly mounted on and adapted to turn with shafts 16, 16 and 16". These shafts 16, 16 and 16 have their bearings in upright extensions on two cross-pieces 16, which latter are located on either side of the frame 1. This construction permits the vanes to freely turn with their respective shafts. The vanes are situated immediately below the rollers, and the function of the vanes is to distribute the sheets of varying thicknesses after their passage between the rollers into suitable receptacles 17 Each of the vanes in the construction illustrated comprises two light arms or rods rigidly mounted at their lower ends on one of the shafts 16, 16 or 16 and their upper ends joined by-a light cross-rod. Over this framework paper or other suitable material is stretched. It is desirable that the vanes should be light and adapted to be readily moved forward and backward. The construction shown answersthese requirements.

The movement of the vanes 15 is controlled by the movement of the roller 5, carried by the movable supplementalframe 7. The motion of the roller 5 maybe transmitted to the vanes by one of several methods. A mechanical clutch may be employed in such a manner that when actuated by an arm connected directly or indirectly to the movable frame it will throw the vanes, or an arm connected so as to multiply the motion of the movable roller sufficiently could be directly linked to the vanes. The motion, multiplied if necessary, of the movable roller could be transmitted to suitable valves, governing a fluid-pressu re in the cylinders, whose pistons connect with the vanes.

The means we prefer for transmitting the motion of the movable roller to the vanes comprises an electric circuit, suitably ar ranged electromagnets, and mechanism, all of which are fully shown by the drawings. These means will be fully described farther on in the specification.

The forward movement of the vanes is limited by lugs 18 on the main frame and when released by the action of the electromagnets are caused to be brought back to their original positions by means of springs 19, Fig. 3, one end of each spring being attached to the cross-piece 16 and the other end to a vane shaft 16, 16 or 16 After the vanes are carried forward and released in the manner hereinafter set forth they are brought back to their normal positions by the springs 19. In order to control and regulate the backward movement of the vanes and to bring them back with a quick and positive movement, we provide the means fully illustrated in the drawings. This mechanism comprises a friction-disk 20, carried on and adapted to rotate with a continuously-driven shaft 21. Radial arms 22 are loosely mounted on said shaft and pivotally engage at their outer ends with the inner ends of small arms 23. The outer ends of arms 23 are joined to rods 24. Rods 24, adapted to be moved by the shafts 16, 16 or 16, are connected with the said shafts by means of the arms 24, which latter have their lower ends rigidly mounted on the shafts and their other ends joined with the rods 24:. Lugs or fingers 25, extending across the periphery of the disk 20, are adapted to be brought into contact with the disk when the rods 24 are moved in the direction the disk 20 revolves-that is to say, the shafts 16, 16", and 16 when turned by the springs 19 impart motion to the vanes and also to the arms 2 1, rigidly mounted thereon. The arms 2% in turn communicate motion to the respective rods 24. The mechanism is so disposed that a very slight backward movement of any of the rods 2i will cause the lug orfinger 25, which is indirectly connected therewith, to come in contact with and be carried along for a slight distance by the friction-disk 20. Thusthe backward movement of the vanes depends upon the velocity of rotation of the disk 20, which rotation is regulated by suitably-arranged pulleys and belt-s. By means of this construction we are enabled to move the vanes backward with a quick and positive movement.

Two revolving brushes 26, which serve to clean the rollers land 5, are mounted on shafts having their hearings on the main frame 1. Conveyer-belts 27 and 28 are for the purpose of conveying two grades of the assorted material to the receptacles 17 after its passage between the rolls.

One method for actuating the vanes, in which we employ electromagnets, is shown diagrammatically by Fig. 5. In this instance the construction comprises revolving electromagnets 1a, carrying coils and mounted on the counter-shaft 31, each magnet having a disk 32 loosely mounted on the counter-shaft and directly in front of the magnet, which disks act as armatures for the respective magnets. Collector-rings 33,adapted to make contact with fixed brushes 3%, are also carried on the shaft 31. Light rods 35 connect the disks with the .vanes in such a manner that a revolving movement of the disks will actuate the vanes and cause one or more of them to be brought forward. The several light rods 35 are joined at their outer ends to arms 35, respectively extending out from the disks 32, and at their other ends are pivotally connected with arms 35, which arms at their lower ends are rigidly mounted on the vaneshafts 16,16",and16. A sufficient movement of the movable frame carrying the movable roller 5, which movement is induced by the sheets of mica or other material beingpassed between the rolls, will cause the contact-arms 11 to make contact through their respective contact-fingers 12 with contact-strips 13, thus completing the electric circuit between the contact-strips l3and the revolving magnets 14. The electric current flowing through the magnets causes the magnets to attract their respective armature-disks, grip them, and cause the disks to revolve with the magnets. This rotative movement of the disks actuates the vanes. The rolls and gaging means are preferably so adjusted that the very thinnest sheets passed through them do not move the movable roller sufficiently to enable the contact-arms to make contact with the contactstrips 13, and if this be the case the electrical circuit is not completed and none of the vanes are moved.

Any desirable number of vanes may be employed; but we have found in practice that three vanes are all that is usually required, and we have therefore shown three. With the employment of three vanes sheets or pieces passing between the rolls may be assorted into four grades. Material passed between the pair of rolls, each roller of which is revolving in an opposite direction'but at the same rate of speed, causes the movable roller to vary its distance with reference to the fixed roller, the distance the movable roller is caused to move away from roller at depending upon the thickness of the mate rial. As was stated above, material of the thinnest nature may be passed betweenthe rolls without causing a sufficient movement to complete the electrical circuit. terial after its passage between the rolls falls on a conveyer-belt 27 and is carried to the receptacle designed for the thinnest grade.

It sometimes occurs that a sheet of mica may not be of a uniform thickness or a small protruding piece may adhere to the sheet. If this be the case, the rolls will be parted and the sheet graded according to its maximum thickness.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawings we have shown a very desirable construction for operating the vanes by the aid of an electric current. In this construction we show the revolving electromagnets 14, carried on and keyed to the counter-shaft 31. A frame 36, Figs. 6 to 9, for each magnet is supported from the main frame 1 by an arm 37. This fixed frame 36 is provided with openings through which hollow screws are passed,which permits the wiringtopass through them and the coil wound on a cylindrically-shaped piece carried by the fixed frame. The coil in this construction is stationary. Disk armatures 32, one directly in front of each magnet 14, are in communication with the several vanes by means of the light rods .35, arms 35 35 and the vane-shafts 16, 16", and 16 The means shown operate in substantiall the same manner as was above described in re This maferring particularly to Fig.5'that is to say,a sufficient movement of the contact-arms 11 will make contact through their respective contact-fingers 12 with the contact-strips 13, thus completing the electric circuit and causing the magnets to revolve their armaturedisks, which movement is communicated to the respective vanes. In the diagrammatic views Figs. 5 and 10 we have marked the revolving magnets 14 and the contact-strips 13 a b 0 respectively, and the electric generator is represented by the letter (Z.

In the operation of our invention, constructed in accordance with the accompanying drawings and above described,if sufficient movement is transmitted to contact-arms 11 contact will first be made with con tact-strip a which completes the circuit with the magnet a, causing it to revolve its armature, and thus move vane 15 forward until the Vane strikes against the lugs 18. The vane 15 will be held in this position until the current is broken or until the sheet of mica has passed between the rolls or gaging device. The instant the mica leaves the rolls the current is broken and the magnet will release its armature, thus permitting the vane 15 by the means above described to at once assume its original position. The sheet of. mica which causes the vane 15 to be carried forward will after its passage between the rolls fall between the vanes 15 and 15 into one of the receptacles 17. Should the material passing between the rolls be of sufficient thickness as to cause contact-arms 11 to make contact with contact-strips aand b, then vanes 15 and 15 will be carried forward. If the material be still greater in thickness,contact-arms 11 will complete the circuit between contact-strip c and magnet c and will cause the three vanes 15, 15", and 15 to move forward.

The contact-arms 11, located on both sides of the apparatus, are independently-mounted and make contact with a separate series of contact-fingers 13. We prefer this construction, as it provides two independent means for completing the electrical circuit.

The movable roller 5 is preferably made hollow and the supplemental frame 7 constructed with a view of making it as light as possible.

We have shown the rolls and other parts of the apparatus driven by means of belts and pulleys, which are driven by the main wheel 38, carried by the counter-shaft 31, and have shown them connected up on both sides of the driven parts, We do not desire to be limited to the means shown for driving the rolls and the different parts of the apparatus, for it is evident-these parts maybe driven by other equivalent means.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, &c., the combinatiomwith the main frame, of a gaging device comprising a pair of oppositely-revolving rollers one of which is mounted on the fixed main frame and the other mounted on a light movable frame pivotally supported by the main frame, a series of distributing-vanes controlled by the gaging device and means for operating the rollers and the distributing-vanes, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, &c. the combination, with the main frame, of a gaging device comprising a pair of oppositely-revolving rollers having their axes in parallelism, means for mounting one of the rollers so that it may be moved away from the other, and for maintaining the parallelism of the adjacent elements of the roller-surfaces in any such movement, by the sheet or piece passing between the rollers, distributing means controlled by the gaging device, and means for operating the rollers and the distributing means, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, &c., the combination, with the main frame, of a gaging device comprising a pair of oppositely-revolving rollers and a light movable frame pivotally supported by the main frame, one of said rollers mounted on the main frame and the other on the movable frame, a series of distributing-vanes below the rollers and controlled by the gaging device, means for driving the rollers, means for operating the vanes, and means connecting the movable frame with the means for operating the vanes, substantially as set forth.

4. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, 850., the combination, with the main frame, of a gaging device comprising a pair of rollers, one of said rollers mounted on the main frame and the other on a movable frame pivotally supported by the main frame, said movable frame and its roller adapted to be moved away from the other roller on the entrance of material between the rollers whereby the maximum thickness of the material is gaged, brushes for cleaning the rollers, a series of distributing-vanes controlled by the gaging device, means for driving the rollers, means for operating the vanes, and means connecting the movable frame with the means for operating the vanes, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, &c., the combination, with the main frame, of a gagingdevice comprising a pair of oppositely-revolving rollers, having their axes in parallelism, means for mounting one of the rollers so that it may be moved away from the other, and for maintaining the parallelism of the adjacent elements of the roller-surfaces in any such movement, by the sheet or piece passing between the rollers, brushes for cleaning the rollers, a series of distributing-vanes controlled by the gaging device, receptacles below the vanes for receiving the material operated on, means for conveying the material to the receptacles, and means for operating the vanes and the rollers, substantially as set forthI 6. In an apparatus for assorting mica, 850., the combination With the main frame, of a driving-shaft, a gaging device for gaging the thickness of the material to be assorted comprising a movable frame and a pair of rollers, distributing means below the gaging device, an electric circuit, electromagnets mounted on thedriving-shaft and adapted to make connections with the distributing means for moving the same, and means controlled by the gaging device for completing and breaking the electric circuit.

7. In an apparatus for assorting mica, &c., the combination, with the frame, of a driving-shaft, a gaging device for determining the thickness of the material to be assorted, a series of distributingvanes below the gaging device, an electric circuit, a series of electromagnets and their armatures mounted on the driving-shaft, means connecting the armatures and the vanes, and means controlled by the gaging device for completing the electric circuit to move the vanes.

8. In an apparatus for assorting mica, &c. the combination, with the frame, of a driving-shaft, a gaging device for determining the thickness of the material to be assorted, a series of vanes below the gaging device, an electric circuit, a series of electromagnets and their armatures mounted on the driving-shaft, connections between the vanes and the armatures for moving the vanes in one direction and means for moving the vanes back to their 1 clutch controlled by the gaging device, substantially as set forth.

10. In an apparatus for assorting sheets or pieces of mica, &c., the combination, with the main frame, of an electric circuit, a gaging device for gaging the thickness of the material to be assorted, comprising, a pair of oppositely-revolving rollers and a light movable frame on which one roller is mounted, means for driving the rollers, a series of distributingvanes controlled by the gaging device, a series of electromagnets and their-armatures, means connecting the electromagnets and the vanes, and means in communication with the movable frame for completing and breaking the electric circuit.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

RICHARD WV. HEARD. RICHARD A. L. SNYDER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD B. VAILL, W. G. DOOLITTLE. 

